In a sign of clear indifference to the signal a recent appointment would send, the Islamist party recently elected a former terrorist as governor of Luxor.
Although the newly appointed governor was not part of the group that actively carried out the massacre at the Egyptian temple that killed 58 tourists, he has demonstrated links with the group, called Gamaa Islamiya.
Mr. Khayat had denied any role in the group's past and pledged to now do his best to keep tourists safe. Already tourism in Egypt has come very close to a screeching halt, and the move to appoint him surely does not send a good message to would be visitors.
The outcry at his appointment however, was swift, and a clear indication that the Egyptian people still have some fight in them, and have not surrendered their hopes of achieving democracy.
Morsi's appointment was, however, short lived. None other than the Islamist group G. Islamiya actually asked Mr. Khayat to resign "for the good of Egypt".
Although the group has pledged to have abandoned its terrorist ways, it is telling how Morsi is completely inure to the sentiments of the people. The massacre of foreign tourists at the temple site years ago was a devastating blow to the Egyptian economy. For Morsi to even consider the man for such a high position is a telling sign of how far he is willing to go. Any illusion of moderation from him, and maybe even from his party, have at this point completely vanished.
Protests against Morsi were already scheduled to take place before July. This incident will give the demonstrators much more impetus and justification for their grievances.
Source : Al Jazeera/ 6.23.13
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